Pacers aim to stop slide against Mavs

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Indiana Pacers have already clinched a playoff
berth, but haven't been playing like a contender lately.

The Pacers will try to stop a season-high three-game losing streak Sunday
against the Dallas Mavericks in the finale of a three-game road trip.

Indiana dropped its third straight game with Friday's 112-86 setback at
Houston, as David West led the way with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Paul George
(13) and Luis Scola (10) were the other double-digit scorers for Indiana.

"Every team I've ever been a part of has had a stretch like we're in right
now," Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said. "It stinks right now. It's not fun
right now, but we've got a good team and we'll regroup."

Indiana trailed by as many as 16 in the first half, but whittled the gap to
50-43 going into the break. The Rockets later had a 23-3 run and led by a
commanding 73-50 score. The Rockets tallied 17 points off 19 Indiana turnovers
and shot 52.6 percent (40-of-76) from the floor.

The Pacers are 1 1/2 games ahead of Miami for the East's top spot and have a
17-12 record away from home. Their current slide comes on the heels of winning
five in a row.

Indiana will host Boston on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks are in the eighth spot in the West and were able to
stop a three-game slide with a 103-98 triumph over Portland on Friday.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 22 points, Jose Calderon had 19 and Monta Ellis ended
with 17 points for the Mavs. Dallas was outscored 36-18 in the third quarter,
but got back into it during the final stanza.

"It was a horrible third quarter, and they got going. Give them credit. They
hung in, they kept fighting and making plays," Mavericks head coach Rick
Carlisle said.

The Mavs are 20-10 in Big D this season and will start a three-game western
trek Tuesday against Golden State, Utah and Oklahoma City.

Dallas defeated Indiana by an 81-73 score on Feb. 12 to stop a three-game
slide in this series. The Pacers have lost 11 of 14 trips to Dallas.